Greece will be slow to out sports and arts bullies

Significance A wave of allegations of sexual abuse of vulnerable women by powerful men has extended into the Greek theatre. It follows the revelation by Sofia Bekatorou, a prominent Greek Olympic gold medallist in sailing, that a senior official of the Hellenic Sailing Federation had sexually abused her when she was 21 years old. Impacts The Penal Code article on rape and sexual assault, and legislation against workplace sexual harassment may now be implemented properly. The mismanaged and potentially dangerous working environment in sports and theatre could deter younger talents from careers in such fields. If backlogs in the courts delay the clearing up of investigations, it could inflict political damage on the government departments involved.

Comparative Characteristics of the Constitutional and Legal Status of the Senior Official of the Constituent Entities of the Russian Federation – the Cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg

The article provides a theoretical and comparative analysis of the constitutional and legal status of the senior official of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation — the cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg. The author highlighted the main elements of the constitutional and legal status of a senior official of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation, the classification of which became the basis for the proposed methodology for a comparative analysis of the statuses of senior officials of cities of federal significance (Moscow and St. Petersburg) in the context of regional norms. A comparative analysis based on the proposed methodology led to conclusions about the similarities and differences in the constitutional and legal statuses of the Moscow Mayor and the Governor of St. Petersburg.

COVID-19 will compound other crises in Niger

Subject COVID-19 impact on Niger. Significance Niger, after imposing lockdown measures from late March into early May, is reopening. Yet the epidemic continues in much of the country, with a concerning second outbreak in the major southern city of Zinder, and a rising case count in the northern hub of Agadez. The evolving pandemic fallout is also intersecting with challenges such as food security, malaria and armed conflict. Impacts If case counts spike, authorities may find even less compliance from citizens if they attempt a second round of lockdown. COVID-19 has claimed the life of one senior official, Labour Minister Mohamed Ben Omar, but has not greatly affected the country’s elite. The pandemic does not appear to be slowing military operations in either of Niger’s main conflict zones.

Kamerhe arrest will destabilise Congo’s presidency

Subject Dynamics within Congo's coalition government. Significance Vital Kamerhe, President Felix Tshisekedi’s chief of staff and main political ally, was on April 8 arrested on corruption charges, the first time since independence that such a senior official has been imprisoned. Should the charges stick, Kamerhe’s exit from the centre of power would seriously disturb the fragile balance within the uneasy coalition government between Tshisekedi and Kamerhe’s parties, united in the Camp for Change (CACH) alliance, and the Common Front for Congo (FCC) of former President Joseph Kabila. Impacts The arrest creates a political crisis when the nation already faces two health crises (COVID-19 and Ebola) and multiple security crises. Kamerhe’s arrest will weaken the presidency’s capacity to exercise executive power, as Tshisekedi is not known for decisive action. The judiciary’s lack of independence will fuel fears of politicisation and may limit the potential for a wider anti-corruption effort.

New merger will benefit Tahya Tounes in Tunisian polls

Significance In May, Tahya merged with Al Moubadra, a centrist party created by Kamel Morjane, a senior official under ousted President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali. In the coming weeks, Tahya and Al Moubadra are expected to join their regional structures, which will further bolster Tahya’s presence on the ground. The merger illustrates the wide support base Tahya already draws, and that the party is likely to emerge as the main rival to the Islamist Ennahda party. Impacts Persistent frictions between secular parties risks a further decrease in public trust in politics. As political pressure mounts, Nidaa Tounes officials will likely adopt an increasingly populist discourse. A future coalition between Ennahda and Tahya Tounes is likely.

Palestinian pressures may undercut Jordanian stability

Significance The recognition caused outrage across the Arab world, especially in neighbouring Jordan, where it prompted a series of protests, most recently on December 29, with hundreds of marchers waving both Jordanian and Palestinian flags. On the same day, a senior official from Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas demanded that President Mahmoud Abbas, of the rival Fatah party, should terminate the 1993 Oslo Accords governing cooperation with Israel. Impacts Abbas will cling to the Oslo Accords as the basis of his legitimacy; however, he may seek alternative mediators. Jordan could ease travel restrictions on visiting Palestinians, though Amman will be wary of anyone seeking a more permanent stay. Successful Palestinian reconciliation would open up Gaza to Jordanian firms, especially in the construction, health and education sectors.

Actividades privadas compatibles de los altos cargos en la Administración General del Estado

LABURPENA: Oinarrizko zutabe batzuen arabera joan dira garatzen eta ezartzen goi-kargu baten jarduera garatzeko esparrua eratzen duten printzipioak eta eskakizunak. Goi Karguen Bateraezintasunei buruzko abenduaren 26ko 25/1983 Legean jaso dira horietako batzuk, hastapenetan batzuk; hala nola, beste askoren artean, inpartzialtasuna, erabateko arduraldia eta ordainsari bakarra, hori guztia administrazio onaren printzipioaren esparruan kokatuta. Bada, laurogeigarren hamarkadako Goi Karguen Bateraezintasunei buruzko Legean salbuespen batzuk jaso dira, eta, horiekin, printzipio batzuk arindu ahal izan dira (arduraldiarena eta ordainsari bakarrarena, adibidez). Bestetik, salbuespen horiei esker, karguarekin bateragarri izan daitezkeen jarduera jakin batzuk garatzea erraztu da, eta publikoetan eta pribatuetan sailkatu dira jarduera horiek. Goi-karguen jarduera pribatu bateragarrien araubidea aztertu nahi izan da lan honekin, Estatuko Administrazio Orokorreko goi-karguen jarduna arautzen duen martxoaren 30eko 3/2015 Legea hartuta euskarritzat. RESUMEN: El ejercicio de la actividad de un alto cargo se desarrolla en el marco de un conjunto de principios y exigencias que se han ido desarrollando e implementando desde unos pilares básicos, ya recogidos, en algún caso de forma embrionaria, en la Ley 25/1983, de 26 de diciembre, sobre incompatibilidades de altos cargos, como son, entre otros muchos, los de imparcialidad, dedicación exclusiva, retribución única y todo ello en el marco del principio de Buena Administración. Con todo, desde la Ley de incompatibilidades de los altos cargos de los años ochenta se han venido contemplando excepciones que permiten atenuar algunos principios como el de dedicación y retribución única, y facilitan el desarrollo de ciertas actividades que pueden compatibilizarse con el desarrollo del cargo y que se han clasificado en públicas y privadas. El objeto de este trabajo es el análisis del régimen de las actividades compatibilidades privadas de los altos cargo, tomando como piedra angular la Ley 3/2015, de 30 de marzo, reguladora del ejercicio del alto cargo de la Administración General del Estado. ABSTRACT: The exercise of activity by a senior official is to be developed within the framework of a set of principles and requirements which have progressed and been implemented from some fundamental pillars, already established, in some cases in a very embryonic form, by Act 28/1983 of December 26th, on incompatibilities of senior officials as they are, among many, the impartiality, full time dedication, sole remuneration and all of it within the framework of the good administration principle. However, since Act on incompatibilities of senior officials in the eighties many exceptions have been envisioned which allow to mitigate some principles like fulltime dedication and sole remuneration, and they ease the development of some activities which could be made compatible with the exercise of the activity and that have been classified as public and private. The scope of this work is to analyze the regime for private compatible activities of senior officials taking as cornerstone Act 3/2015 of March 30th, on the exercise of activities by senior officials within the central state administration.